MANILA, Philippines — The family of a four-year-old boy who died in an anti-drug operation in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City earlier this week has sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The grandmother of Blasden Skyler Abatayo, Celirina, and their relatives trooped to the NBI-Central Visayas office yesterday.

Skyler was with his mother in an abandoned house beside a suspected drug den when he was hit by a stray bullet as drug suspects resisted arrest and reportedly engaged police officers in a shootout.

Dominador Cimafranca, NBI-Region 7 assistant director, said he asked the relatives of the victim to submit the medical and police reports on the incident.

Cimafranca said a reenactment of the drug raid might be conducted. He said concerned police personnel would also be invited for questioning. – The Freeman

President Duterte is seeking common ground with Beijing on the planned joint exploration in Philippine waters and has not abandoned the 2016 arbitral court ruling favoring the Philippine position on the South China Sea, Malacañang told Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday.

Malacañang on Saturday slammed Vice President Leni Robredo for criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte’s openness to ignore the Philippines’ legal victory in the South China Sea and seal an energy deal with Beijing, saying she needs new advisers who can comprehend the maritime row.

The US Navy said that one of its destroyers had sailed close to the Chinese-controlled Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on Friday, asserting international freedom of navigation rights in the contested waters.

Under Philippine law, President Rodrigo Duterte does not have the authority to "set aside" the July 2016 ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Supreme Court Senior Associate Antonio Carpio said.